25 Receiving Treatment As Cholera Kills 2 In Lagos

No less than two persons have been confirmed dead, while 25 others are receiving treatment in hospitals following an outbreak of cholera in three local government areas in Lagos state.

The State Government at a press conference in Alausa on Tuesday said the cases came like the typical diarrhoea and vomiting associated with cholera, adding that the disease was recorded in Shomolu, Oshodi-Isolo and Surulere Local Government Areas.

Speaking on the outbreak, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, who was at the briefing with the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, said that the outbreak was due to the heavy rainfall being experienced and the aftermath of flooding in the state.

He said, “Twenty-seven cases have been listed by our epidemiology/disease surveillance officers as of today, July 25, 2017. Two deaths were recorded from the 27 cases.”

Idris said six cases were recorded in Somolu LGA, adding that one of the patients died.

He explained that while four were managed at the Somolu General Hospital, one was managed at a private hospital, while one patient died at home.

“In Oshodi-Isolo LGA, two cases were recorded. One was managed at a private hospital and he is alive, while one died at home. In Surulere LGA, 14 cases were reported and managed at Randle General Hospital. No death was recorded,” he said.

The commissioner further added two other cases were managed at the Mainland Hospital with no death recorded, while three cases were managed at the Gbagada General Hospital.

“The main suspected source of infection is the contamination of water sources with faecal matter from faulty septic tanks and soakaway, following the heavy rainfall in the state. Samples of well water have been collected and sent to the Lagos State Drug Quality Control Laboratory. We are still expecting the results,” Idris added.

The public were urged to use potable water, saying sanitation was critical in reducing the impact of cholera and other water-borne diseases.

“The clinical manifestations of cholera are nausea, profuse diarrhoea, vomiting (in early stages of illness), fever, and leg cramp. Later presentations are dehydration, shock or coma,” he added.

Idris said the government had instituted measures to contain the outbreak.

He said, “The medical directors of our general hospitals have been placed on alert and fact sheets on cholera forwarded to both public and private hospitals. Our community health workers are in the communities to prevent the spread of the disease. Chlorination of water supply has been intensified, awareness campaign is ongoing.”

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